The fixture and weather Gods have combined in recent weeks to provide Richmond with the daunting schedule of playing the three top sides away in successive fixtures. After competing well with the top two teams, Richmond came unstuck against a slick and powerful Rosslyn Park side, which had too much pace, power and cohesion for a Richmond side short of confidence and form.

After a heavy late morning downpour, the pitch was naturally heavy, creating difficult conditions for flowing rugby. Nevertheless Park showed their intentions from the opening whistle, kicking high and deep to test the visitors’ defence but running the ball with confidence when given any space. The first score came after just four minutes. Richmond conceded an unnecessary penalty, going offside carelessly and Park established a strong territorial position. Richmond then suffered another unfortunate injury, Peter Clarke departing with a rib injury to be replaced by Dan Falvey. The substitute barely had time to get on the pitch before Marc Sweeney breeched the Richmond defence for a try under the posts, converted by Ross Laidlaw. It was certainly not the start, which Richmond needed.

Five minutes later, Park went further ahead when Adam Gates broke a tackle to surge on and give a scoring pass to winger James Strong. After nine minutes Park were 14-0 up and it was hard to see anything but a comfortable Park victory. Richmond were having to absorb heavy pressure, winning very little ball from either set play or breakdown. The Park scrum was dominant and the visitors could get no advantage from the secure opposition line out. In attack Park consistently made good ground, their strong runners enjoying excellent support and handling the wet ball well. By contrast Richmond had to live off scraps and too often coughed up hard earned ball in the face of Park’s aggressive defence.

Further scores were inevitable. After an exchange of penalties, Park scored two more tries before half time, one through the backs with full back Richard Davies coming into the line, and one after a forward drive from a line out. Richmond threatened for the first time in the last two minutes of the half but a final pass out wide went into touch, leaving the half time score at 31-3. The mood was not lightened by the departure of a hobbling Dan Falvey, the second back row player to come off injured.

When the second half started, the Richmond pack had been necessarily reorganised, with prop Danny Parkinson in the second row, Tristan Wesley at blind side, Jono Farmer at  No 8 and Tom George on the open side. Given this significant disruption and Henry Head’s yellow card after six minutes, the floodgates might have opened but Richmond stuck at their defensive jobs and deserve some credit for restricting Park to three further tries, the last being scored rather cruelly in the final minute when the visitors were down to fourteen men.

The outstanding Jono Farmer deservedly scored the one Richmond try, both initiating the key break with a storming thirty metre run and then completing the job from short range as the forwards drove deep into the 22. Tom George, who battled hard throughout, was given a second Richmond yellow card and Johnny Wehbe, admirably secure under the high ball, came off injured with two minutes to go.

It was not a happy day for Richmond but Park are a good and ambitious side, who will be far too strong for most of their remaining league opponents. Next week, Richmond at last return to the Athletic Ground for a 3pm game against Henley Hawks, whom they beat in the away fixture in October. Henley’s form has been improving of late but they have not played since December 12 so there is all to play for.

Tries: Farmer 

Penalties: M.Hart

Team: M.Hart, T.Cook, A.Saunders (T.Gregory), T.Malthouse, J.Wehbe,  L.Cousins, T.Henry (J.Platt),  A.Lyon, E.Rosa (J.Clapson),  E.Atkinson, H.Head (C), T.Wesley, J.Farmer, T.George,  P.Clarke (D.Falvey) (D.Parkinson).